One of the main things that people look at when it comes to alternative sources of energy is whether it is financially viable or not. Getting a solar energy system for your home or work place these days would actually help you save some money on the total cost of your utility bills annually. However, this particular benefit is not necessarily immediate, as there are some other costs that you need to consider. The Types There are 3 types of active solar applications that you can readily use in the home namely active solar pool heating, active solar space heating and active solar water heating. Active solar space heating can heat air inside the house by using pumps, blowers and fans that will distribute and gather heat. Scientists during the 18th century were able to discover that covering a box with a glass top while heating it would actually get the water to reach boiling temperature. But it wasn t until someone tried to separate the solar heat collector with the water tank that the first prototype for solar hot water heaters was created. Installation will depend on several factors and will need careful study, such as the angle of the sun, the position and area where you need to place the solar panels and the number of hours to complete the project. On Purchasing Purchasing solar power systems may be more expensive for first-time buyers. There are also rebates provided depending on the local agency and the state. If you own a grid-tied system in California, you can make use of some programs that will minimize the total cost of the system. Majority of the system usually do not include the battery storage that lets power in once the utility does not work. Solar steam generators use solar power generation use the power of the sun to heat water and create steam to let electrical turbines work. Another popular method of solar power generation is through the use of photovoltaic devices. The devices are made to use photovoltaic cells or solar cells to transform solar energy into DC electricity.